Over more than two decades, Mara! have developed a unique musical style which fuses folk roots with modern jazz expressionism, adding influences from rock to early music, while journeying through Anglo-Celtic, middle Eastern, Balkan and Mediterranean traditions. Nowadays they perform many original works that are a musical mirror where these flavours find their dazzling reflection.

Fronted by the remarkable and magnetic voice of Mara Kiek, these icons of world music have brought their virtuosic concert performances to audiences in 21 countries. Their 1997 album of original music ‘Sezoni’ (Real World Records) with the 25 voice Bulgarian/Australian Choir “Martenitsa” was featured in Legs on the Wall’s “Homeland” for the Sydney Olympics – and again at the Berlin LiteraturWERKstat Festival in 2003. In 2001 Mara! collaborated with the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir in Brisbane to perform Mara Kiek’s magnificent “Neizvestnoto” . In 2004 Mara! and Martenitsa premiered and broadcast their new suite of original music in Italian “Tra Parole E Silenzio” at Fox Studios in Sydney.... On their most recent European tour in 2005, Mara! performed on WOMAD Reading’s mainstage for the 3rd time.

Mara!’s musicians are among the most highly regarded world and jazz players in Australia creating truly exciting, innovative and uplifting music.

So often, World fusion music relies on studio tricks, synthesized ambience, sampled drum grooves, or bottomless reverb to create its sense of wonder and mystery. Thankfully, Mara! has released a live album that has stripped away the production bells and whistles. The true power and impact of this music comes from the interplay of five virtuosic human beings onstage with real instruments and a desire to blend countless influences (folk, jazz, rock, Celtic, Balkan, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, etc.) into a thrilling, cohesive whole.